My happiest role in life is helping others. This year the tables were turned. I have required more help than I have ever needed in my entire life. It started with help to get out of bed, to get dressed, to walk. Now that I can do all of that with minimal assistance, I still need help to buy our food, prepare our food, to get in and out of the car and so much more. I want to thank those who have been there personally for me. Those who have taken time out of their lives to find what they can do to help carry the load my family has carried for over a year now. You all know who you are, but I want to make sure you know that giving of yourselves in that way has lifted us up to go on again. Each and every time.Then there are those who have helped from afar, your constant check ins, messages, cards etc. have filled my many hours with pleasant conversation. It has helped my sanity and avoided cabin fever (so far)!This weekend as you all enjoy your family, and friends, eat, drink, be merry. Be happy if you have been served a wonderful meal. I want those who cook and prepare it all, to take a breath and be very grateful that their health allowed them to do so this Thanksgiving.My pride and joy is cooking. I love it! I especially love cooking big festive meals and decorating the table for these events. It has been a while since I have done it with reckless abandonment. I have had so much pain that although I did it and smiled (mostly) through it, it has been a struggle. This year I let go of that and allow my family to do it for me, for us.We are making a traditional turkey dinner combined with Jiggs dinner. It's how we do it in Newfoundland. And my brother flew in from Gander, Newfoundland last night to help the girls and Barry do it right! Jim is here from midnight Thursday until Tuesday. It is great to have another family member here to visit and help me shop, and prepare for the girl's arrival. Thanks Jim and thanks to Loretta for sending him to us.I honestly don't know how to thank the girls for this past year. They have been wonderful. Meg has driven hours and hours this summer to be near to lend a hand. Despite a very busy job she hardly missed a weekend. Her ability to bring a smile into a room that has been chaos is impressive. She reminded me to breathe, try and try again and always look for the positive. Jerri being right there in Toronto didn't miss a day. She not only held a very demanding job in a hospital but spent her evenings at the hospital with me. She knew how to get things done and make me laugh, and cooked wonderful meals for her Dad.They are both wonderful young woman who were given another opportunity to show us what they are made off, and we liked what we saw. Nothing better as a parent.There are no words to thank Barry, he has been an absolute rock throughout all of this. He has been there through thick and thin. Many times he was my advocate, other times he was a companion on all those boring days, coming up with ways to fill the time. He allowed his life, his activities to slow to the pace of mine. I'm not sure I know many men who would do that. He knows how much time I was spending alone, housebound, and after work didn't want to leave me alone again. For that alone, I owe him a world of gratitude. I worked very hard to be myself, not get down or to have the "poor me's". My family made me laugh so much that it made it possible most of the time.I'm not saying it was easy, it wasn't and isn't. With friends and family by your side, surgery, failed surgery, surgery again, failed surgery again then surgery again, is possible with a smile on your face.Each and everyone one of you, please take my thank you to heart, it has meant the world to me and no doubt brought all of you a step closer to heaven. Happy Thanksgiving my dear family and friends and all of you readers who give me purpose daily.